Child-Resistant Large Mouth Container

ABSTRACT

A container system ( 20 ) comprises: a container body ( 22 ) having a sidewall ( 26 ), a shoulder ( 32 ), and an externally threaded neck ( 34 ) extending from the shoulder; and a closure ( 24 ) having an internally threaded inner sidewall ( 50 ) extending from a rim, an outer sidewall ( 60 ), and an installed condition with the inner sidewall in threaded engagement with the neck. The outer sidewall has a radially inwardly protruding barb ( 80 ) having a ramping surface ( 82 ) and a stop surface ( 84 ). The container body shoulder has a lug ( 90 ) having a ramping surface ( 92 ) and a stop surface ( 94 ). A first projection ( 120 ) protrudes radially outward from the outer sidewall to a first circumferential side of the barb and a second projection ( 122 ) protrudes radially outward from the outer sidewall to a second circumferential side of the barb.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/337,292, filed May16, 2016, and entitled “Child-Resistant Large Mouth Container”, thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entiretyas if set forth at length.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to plastic jars with threaded closures. Moreparticularly, the disclosure relates to child-resistant features forsuch jars.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,417 to Mull, Jul. 13, 1999, discloses an exemplaryexisting system.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure involves a container system comprising: acontainer body having a sidewall, a shoulder, and an externally threadedneck extending from the shoulder; and a closure having an internallythreaded inner sidewall extending from a rim, an outer sidewall, and aninstalled condition with the inner sidewall in threaded engagement withthe neck. The outer sidewall has a radially inwardly protruding barbhaving a ramping surface and a stop surface. The container body shoulderhas a lug having a ramping surface and a stop surface. A firstprojection protrudes radially outward from the outer sidewall to a firstcircumferential side of the barb and a second projection protrudesradially outward from the outer sidewall to a second circumferentialside of the barb.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, theclosure comprises a circumferential gap between the first projection andthe second projection.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the lugprotrudes upward from the shoulder and radially outward from the neck.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, theclosure has an upper web having a central portion vertically recessedrelative to an outer portion.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, acircumferential wall and connects the central portion to the outerportion.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, aplurality of vertical webs span between the central portion and thecircumferential wall.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, theclosure has an upper web having an underside bearing a plurality ofprojections radially overlapping with a rim of the neck.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, theprojections are ramps, each having a surface at the same pitch as apitch of the internal thread of the inner sidewall.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the stopsurfaces are oriented circumferentially off-radial (e.g., at least 10°or an exemplary 10° to 25° or 10° to 20° or about 15°) in a directionthat resists their overriding each other.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, wherein:the stop surfaces are oriented circumferentially off-radial by at least10° in a direction that resists their overriding each other.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, aplurality of vertical webs connect the inner sidewall to the outersidewall.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, a methodfor using the system comprises: squeezing the first projection and thesecond projection toward each other to radially outwardly shift thebarb; and unscrewing the closure while maintaining the squeezing.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, objects, andadvantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and fromthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a container.

FIG. 2 is a view of an upper portion of the container (portion below cutaway).

FIG. 3 is a top view of the container upper portion.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the container upper portion.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the container upper portion.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the container upper portion takenalong line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a closure of the container.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the closure.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the closure taken along line 9-9of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the closure taken along line10-10 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of a portion of the closure of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a view of an upper portion of a body of the container.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the container body upper portion.

FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of a locking ramp region of the containerbody.

FIG. 13 is bottom view of an alternate closure.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a large-mouth child resistant container 20 comprising abody 22 and a closure 24. The closure 24 is a screw-on closure which maybe screwed on and off by rotation about a central longitudinal axis 500shared by the closure and body when the closure is installed. Theexemplary body 22 comprises a sidewall 26 extending upward from a base28. The sidewall has a tapered upper portion 30 transitioning to ashoulder 32 (FIG. 6). An externally threaded neck 34 (having externalthread 35) extends upward from the shoulder to a rim 36. The rimcircumscribes an open mouth 40.

FIGS. 7-11 show the closure 24. The closure comprises an internallythreaded inner sidewall 50 (FIG. 10A) extending upward from a lower rim52 and having a radially inboard surface 54 (bearing the internal thread55) and an opposite radially outboard surface 56. The closure furthercomprises an outer sidewall 60 extending from a lower rim 62 and havingrespective inboard and outboard surfaces 64 and 66. A top web 70 spansthe inner sidewall to enclose the container when the closure isinstalled. FIG. 10 shows the top web 70 as having a central portion 72vertically recessed relative to an outer portion 74 and connectedthereto via an angled circumferential wall 76. A plurality ofvertical/radial ribs or webs 78 span between the central portion 72 andcircumferential wall 76 to rigidify the circumferential wall. Thisrigidification plus other rigidifications discussed below helpultimately rigidify the threaded inner wall 50 against being pulled off.FIG. 9 also shows a vertical/radial web 79 between the inner sidewalland the outer sidewall (see also, FIG. 8). In the exemplary embodimentof FIG. 8, these webs 79 are evenly circumferentially spaced with theexception of one missing web adjacent the latching feature 80.

As is discussed further below, the outer sidewall bears child-resistantfeatures for cooperating with complementary features of the containerbody. The FIG. 8 underside view shows a child-resistant latching feature80 extending radially inward from the inboard surface 64 of the outersidewall 60. In the exemplary embodiment, this is formed as an inwarddiversion of the outer sidewall 60 associated with a complementaryrecess 81 (FIG. 7) in the outboard surface 66 of the outer sidewall.

The complementary feature of the body is a lug 90 (FIG. 11). Theexemplary lug 90 extends upward from an upper surface of the shoulder 32and radially outward from an outboard surface of a lower portion 33 ofthe neck below the external thread 35. As with the feature 80, theexemplary feature 90 is formed as a protrusion associated with acomplementary internal recess to maintain a generally constant wallthickness. This, for example, may be an artifact of injection blowmolding or other blow molding process forming the features. Each of thefeatures 80 and 90 has a respective ramping surface 82, 92 and stopsurface 84, 94. The exemplary ramping surfaces are essentially verticaland of slightly off-circumferential orientation. In the exemplaryembodiment, both are convex arcs. The arcs are oriented so that duringan installing rotation, the ramping surfaces contact each other as thefeature 80 is rotated past the feature 90. A ramping action radiallyoutwardly deforms the outer sidewall 60 at the feature 80 locally. Uponfurther rotation, eventually the ramping surfaces will pass out ofengagement (e.g., when respective apexes 86, 96 pass each other). Atthis point, the outer sidewall will snap back radially to a relaxedcondition.

Once the closure is fully installed, an unscrewing rotation will tend tobring the stop surfaces 84 and 94 into contact with each other. The stopsurfaces are oriented generally vertically and slightlycircumferentially off-radial (e.g., at least 10° or an exemplary 10° to25° or 10° to 20° or about 15°) in a direction that resists theiroverriding each other in attempted unscrewing. Thus, further unscrewingtorque will tend to drive the outer sidewall locally inward to maintainengagement between the features 80 and 90 and prevent unscrewingrotation.

To facilitate unscrewing rotation, the user must locally outwardlydeform the closure body outer sidewall 60 at the feature 80 so as toshift it sufficiently radially outward to override the feature 90. Thisis done by the provision of a pair of finger actuatable tabs (radialoutward projections) 120 and 122 (FIG. 7) on two oppositecircumferential sides of the feature 80. The tabs have circumferentiallyoutboard surfaces 124 and 126. The user may pinch the tabs by replacinga thumb on one of these surfaces and a forefinger on the other andsqueezing those fingers toward each other. FIG. 7 shows a radial web 83protruding radially outward along an arc between the tabs. The additionof the web increases required squeezing force to allow the outward shiftof the feature 80. This exemplary web extends outward across the recess81. An exemplary web protrudes by at least about 0.05 inch (e.g., 0.05inch to 0.15 inch) along the intact portions of the sidewall (away fromthe recess 81). The amount of protrusion may circumferentially vary. Asshow, a much greater radial extent is shown at the recess 81.

An additional feature which may be implemented independently of thechild-resistant features is a ventilation feature. The exemplaryventilation feature vents the container interior even when the closureis fully screwed on. This may be relevant when the particular contentsof the container have a tendency to outgas or react and produce gas thatmust be vented to avoid pressurizing the container. The exemplarypressure relief features comprises a plurality of ramps 200 (four shownin FIG. 13) on the underside of the closure top web 70 at a radialposition at least partially overlapping the rim of the container body.The exemplary ramps 200 have a first surface 202 and a second surface204 as well as an ID surface 206 and an OD surface 208. The firstsurface 202 is at a pitch corresponding to the thread pitch. This allowsthe ramps to be released from a mold portion that molds the interior ofthe closure including the threads. The closure is simply unscrewed fromthis mold portion.

The container may be made using otherwise conventional or yet-developedmaterials and techniques. Exemplary closure manufacture is by injectionmolding and body manufacture by blow molding. Exemplary closure materialis polypropylene. Exemplary body material is high density polyethylene(HDPE).

One variation on conventional techniques involves using a thread ofgreater than standard depth DT (FIG. 10A) on both neck and closure. Thegreater radial engagement between the two threads allows positiveretention of the closure while allowing the closure to be light andinexpensive to manufacture. Exemplary depth with an approximately 3 inchmouth diameter is in excess of 0.060 inch or in excess of 0.070 inch andup to about 0.100 inch or 0.09 inch with an example of 0.70 inch to 0.80inch or 0.76 inch. This may be contrasted with a standard thread of0.046 inch. The extra depth is provided by making the angle of thenon-bearing face of the thread closer to radial. This depth is about 50%greater (e.g., at least 30% or 30% to 60% greater) than the SP-400Voluntary Standard SP400, International Society of BeverageTechnologists drawing 1165379-1 1999 Mar. 10, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein as if set forth at length.

The use of “first”, “second”, and the like in the description andfollowing claims is for differentiation within the claim only and doesnot necessarily indicate relative or absolute importance or temporalorder. Similarly, the identification in a claim of one element as“first” (or the like) does not preclude such “first” element fromidentifying an element that is referred to as “second” (or the like) inanother claim or in the description.

Where a measure is given in English units followed by a parentheticalcontaining SI or other units, the parenthetical's units are a conversionand should not imply a degree of precision not found in the Englishunits.

One or more embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made. For example, whenapplied to an existing basic system, details of such configuration orits associated use may influence details of particular implementations.Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container system (20) comprising: a containerbody (22) having: a sidewall (26); a shoulder (32); and an externallythreaded neck (34) extending from the shoulder; and a closure (24)having: an internally threaded inner sidewall (50) extending from a rim;an outer sidewall (60); and an installed condition with the innersidewall in threaded engagement with the neck, wherein: the outersidewall has a radially inwardly protruding barb (80) having a rampingsurface (82) and a stop surface (84); the container body shoulder has alug (90) having a ramping surface (92) and a stop surface (94); a firstprojection (120) protrudes radially outward from the outer sidewall to afirst circumferential side of the barb; and a second projection (122)protrudes radially outward from the outer sidewall to a secondcircumferential side of the barb.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein: theclosure comprises a circumferential gap between the first projection andthe second projection.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein: the lugprotrudes upward from the shoulder and radially outward from the neck.4. The system of claim 1 wherein: the closure has an upper web (70)having a central portion (72) vertically recessed relative to an outerportion (74).
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein: a circumferential wall(76) connects the central portion to the outer portion.
 6. The system ofclaim 5 wherein: a plurality of vertical webs (78) span between thecentral portion and the circumferential wall.
 7. The system of claim 1wherein: the closure has an upper web having an underside bearing aplurality of projections (200) radially overlapping with a rim (36) ofthe neck.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein: the projections are ramps,each having a surface (202) at the same pitch as a pitch of the internalthread of the inner sidewall.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein: the stopsurfaces of the barb and the lug are oriented circumferentiallyoff-radial in a direction that resists their overriding each other. 10.The system of claim 1 wherein: the stop surfaces of the barb and the lugare oriented circumferentially off-radial by at least 10° in a directionthat resists their overriding each other.
 11. The system of claim 1wherein: a plurality of vertical webs (79) connect the inner sidewall tothe outer sidewall.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein: a radial web (83)connects the first projection and the second projection.
 13. A methodfor using the system of claim 1, the method comprising: squeezing thefirst projection and the second projection toward each other to radiallyoutwardly shift the barb; and unscrewing the closure while maintainingthe squeezing.